Author Topic: Heath Ledger - News Accounts  (Read 1142241 times)

Offline Mikaela

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Re: Heath Ledger - News Accounts
« Reply #650 on: February 13, 2008, 06:07:46 am »
Quote
from the article:
For weeks, Ledger had been complaining of being unable to sleep. He said that if he took a sleeping pill he managed to drift off for an hour or so before being wide awake again with his mind toiling in circles like a hamster on a wheel. These are symptoms of exhaustion, for which the only remedy is rest, but there was no one to insist that Ledger cancel all engagements and spend a month surfing or snowboarding and sleeping the deep sleep of physical rather than mental exhaustion.

I found this the most insightful, and therefore in hindsight terribly sad part of that article. Obviously he *was* driving himself too hard, not only professionally but also privately for a while - there was a period last autumn when pictures emerged nearly by the hour from various parties and events on both sides of the Atlantic.... And he did look thin and weary, more than usually fidgety and restless in his last interviews. :-\  :'(


That said, I think the article is typical of the attitude that has to place blame somewhere. Someone has to be at fault, and that someone must be found. God forbid that shit happens, for no real reason, with noone specifically to be blamed.  ::) We don't want that kind of unpredictable world, do we?  :-\

She very obviously doesn't want to blame Heath himself for not taking time off, for running himself to exhaustion, for being careless in any way, - and she doesn't want to blame anyone else, either, who might be offended and hurt - so she comes up with a suitable "faceless" culprit, and blames "Celebrity Health Care". I think it's stupid.

Celebrities of Heath's caliber under normal circumstances are intelligent people who are fully able to comprehend and keep an overview over their own medical situation and inform a new doctor, and to themselves make informed decisions. And who should be expected to do so. There is nothing forcing them to blindly rely on whatever a new doctor throws their way. And by way of their celebrity status and their importance to big-dollar projects such as TDK, they have ready and immediate access to top-notch helth care professionals and specialists if and when required. So I don't buy GG's description of the poor celebrities left floundering in the dark and dangers of a health care limbo.

It seems much more realistic to me that despite all this, very creative people will drive themselves onwards even when the bodily and mental signals to stop and take time out are getting stronger to the point of persistence - and even if both they and those around them realize that. They push themsleves regardless, that's part of who they are, how they became who they are - and medication of various sorts is one way they manage to keep going. And OK, sure - their doctors help them with that, but normally with the best intentions.

That said, I think Heath probably was too exhausted to get himself out of the wheel he was caught in, or to sit down to ponder the various medication he'd been prescribed. So he needed help to break out of the situation, probably - but do we know he wasn't getting any (from family and friends?) Do we know he hadn't been told to slow down, by loved ones and doctors alike? And does it make any difference now? Is it really necessary to play the blame game, - blame him, or those close to him, or the doctors and medical service he was in contact with?  I don't think so. Everyone probably acted with the best intentions - doctors to relieve his symptoms, Heath himself to be able to rest and so recuperate, family and friends... who knows?

Unpredictable, unexpected, random, terrible things sometimes happen, to our shock and grief. This is one such. I don't think there's a need to blame anyone, or anything.

Offline belbbmfan

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Re: Heath Ledger - News Accounts
« Reply #651 on: February 13, 2008, 07:55:41 am »

That said, I think Heath probably was too exhausted to get himself out of the wheel he was caught in, or to sit down to ponder the various medication he'd been prescribed. So he needed help to break out of the situation, probably - but do we know he wasn't getting any (from family and friends?) Do we know he hadn't been told to slow down, by loved ones and doctors alike? And does it make any difference now? Is it really necessary to play the blame game, - blame him, or those close to him, or the doctors and medical service he was in contact with?  I don't think so. Everyone probably acted with the best intentions - doctors to relieve his symptoms, Heath himself to be able to rest and so recuperate, family and friends... who knows?

Unpredictable, unexpected, random, terrible things sometimes happen, to our shock and grief. This is one such. I don't think there's a need to blame anyone, or anything.


I haven't read the GG article and I agree, there's no point in trying to blame anyone or anything. It serves no purpose to just say 'this or that is what's to blame' and then go to the order of the day.

What I do think is important, and I think this is why many people try to find out the circumstances surrounding Heath's death, is 'can another untimely tragic death like this be avoided?'
And I think after reading some of the posts made by people relating to the way we deal with prescription drugs, there is. It's certainly as big a problem here in my country as anywhere.
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Offline opinionista

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Re: Heath Ledger - News Accounts
« Reply #652 on: February 13, 2008, 11:12:30 am »
Germaine Greer has made a profession of saying things for the sensationalism value. She thrives on it. I wouldn't take too much notice of what she says.

I was thinking the same thing. However, I agree with some of her statements though sometimes it seems to me she victimizes celebrities in general a bit too much. Not Heath in particular. For example, the below quote.

"The poorest patient on the NHS gets better treatment than a celebrity trying to live and work on both sides of the Atlantic."

I think that's an exaggeration.
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. -Mark Twain.

Marge_Innavera

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Re: Heath Ledger - News Accounts
« Reply #653 on: February 13, 2008, 12:38:17 pm »
That said, I think the article is typical of the attitude that has to place blame somewhere. Someone has to be at fault, and that someone must be found. God forbid that shit happens, for no real reason, with noone specifically to be blamed.   We don't want that kind of unpredictable world, do we? 

Certainly agree with that. The two most offensive reactions I know of so far are John Gibson's schtick on FOX News and an article I ran across yesterday on the website of a religious magazine -- seems that Heath had a miserable, empty life because he wasn't a member of the writer's church.

I apologize if this link has already been posted, but last week Newsweek ran an incredible tribute from Christopher Nolan, director of The Dark Knight.  The print version also had a good photo of Heath - if anyone wants a scanned version, just email me through my profile.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/105580

Offline ednbarby

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Re: Heath Ledger - News Accounts
« Reply #654 on: February 13, 2008, 01:33:02 pm »
Thank you for posting that, Marge.  I had not seen it, and it just brought tears to my eyes.  What a lovely, and appropriate, tribute.

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mvansand76

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Re: Heath Ledger - News Accounts
« Reply #655 on: February 13, 2008, 02:00:37 pm »
Certainly agree with that. The two most offensive reactions I know of so far are John Gibson's schtick on FOX News and an article I ran across yesterday on the website of a religious magazine -- seems that Heath had a miserable, empty life because he wasn't a member of the writer's church.

I apologize if this link has already been posted, but last week Newsweek ran an incredible tribute from Christopher Nolan, director of The Dark Knight.  The print version also had a good photo of Heath - if anyone wants a scanned version, just email me through my profile.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/105580

Hey Marge, yes, this was posted in the Tributes/Obituaries thread, but it can't be posted often enough, it's my favourite obituary, it brings tears to my eyes each time, especially this:

Quote
Now that screening will never be real. I see him every day in my edit suite. I study his face, his voice. And I miss him terribly.

 :'( :'( :'(

I would love to get a scanned version of it, I will PM you...

Offline j.U.d.E.

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Re: Heath Ledger - News Accounts
« Reply #656 on: February 13, 2008, 07:04:52 pm »
Marge, that Christopher Nolan tribute is so beautiful! Gosh, I'm lost for words! Thank you for posting it. I hadn't read it before.

".. charisma — as invisible and natural as gravity. That's what Heath had."

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Offline ednbarby

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Re: Heath Ledger - News Accounts
« Reply #657 on: February 14, 2008, 04:14:06 pm »
Snavel, that line gets me every time.   :'(

And Jude, I think that is the most beautiful one in the article - "charisma as invisible and natural as gravity."  So true.

I posted the link at a site not related at all to the movie or Heath, but where I know a couple longtime fans of his post.  One wrote this in response (and gave me permission to repost it):

"What a beautiful and moving tribute. I get the strong sense we'd only seen the tip of the iceberg of talent he would have graced us with if given the time. Of course I grieve for his family and loved ones, those who loved him for who he was. But I also grieve for what we lost, what he would have lovingly given to all of us and the ways in which he could have made the world a slightly better place with his passion for his art."
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Offline Penthesilea

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Re: Heath Ledger - News Accounts
« Reply #658 on: February 14, 2008, 04:48:20 pm »
"What a beautiful and moving tribute. I get the strong sense we'd only seen the tip of the iceberg of talent he would have graced us with if given the time. Of course I grieve for his family and loved ones, those who loved him for who he was. But I also grieve for what we lost, what he would have lovingly given to all of us and the ways in which he could have made the world a slightly better place with his passion for his art."


Beautifully said. Thanks for reposting Barb.

I agree about the Chris Nolan tribute. It's (one of) the best I've read. Love the skateboard story, and that Heath thanked the crew members. And yes, the sentence Melissa quoted also gets me every time.

Offline Ellemeno

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Re: Heath Ledger - News Accounts
« Reply #659 on: February 15, 2008, 09:17:43 am »
I just noticed this - Michelle's new movie, Incendiary, in which she has the lead role, premiered at Sundance the night before Heath died.  Here are some reviews of the film from people who saw that premiere.  Some were written that night, some in the couple of days after:

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0984200/board/flat/96796539